Engine-starter.



F. H. MILLS.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 19213.20, 191s.

1,096,314. Patented May 12, 1914.

1". H. MILLS.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED TERZO. 19134 1,096,314. 1 Patented May12,1914.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

mm1W11111111111111 WITNESSES nnrrnn sanagns rfrnfr onere.

FRANK H. MILLS, OF RENOVO, PENNSYLVNIA.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Laconia.

To alterno/21ML may concern Be it known that I, FRANK H. MiLLs, a

citizen ot the United States, residing at lie-1 novo, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Engine-Starters, ot' which the following is a specilication.

This invention has reference to improve-` ments in engine starters, and is designed nore particularly for use in connection with proper cycle of operations, the starter of the present invention being capable of supplying the cylinders in succession with charges until the regular action ot' the engine has been brought about.

The invention comprises a valve structure connected to the diiierent cylinders of the multi-cylinder engine, and the construction is such that an explosive mixture under suitable compression may be supplied to the valve structure and by the latter automati` cally distributed or directed to such cylinders as shall have their pistons in the proper position for starting in the proper direction' when supplied with a. compressed explosive charge and such charge is ignited.

The present invention is adapted to multicylinder engines of the four or six cylinder four cycle type, these being the types most in use, and while not confined in its adaptation to the two particular types of multi-cylinder engines, will be described in connection with the two forms of engines mentioned, since the principles ot the invention are amply illustrated therebv.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the Jfollowing detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, with the further under standing that While the drawings show a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 20, 1513.

APatented May 12, 1214.

Serial No. 749,751.

practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications Vmark no material departure from the salient teatures of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure l is a plan view y of the valve structure of the present inven.

tion adapted for use in connection with a four cylinder explosion engine. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l with certain other parts added and shown partly in section and partly in dotted lines. Fig. is a section on the line 3 8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. l but showing an arrangement adapted to a six cylinder engine. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a valve body l in the form of a block of sub- I stantially rectangular outline, and of somewhat less thickness than width and length, but the particular shape of the valve casing is of no material moment. This valve casing l is provided with a cover 2 and incloses a series of chambers 3 disposed about a common center, these chambers being in commu-` nication with a common sub-chamber 4 through respective ports' 5 formed on the end corresponding to the chambers 3 with valve seats 6. Leading from each chamber 3 is a pipe 7 including a check valve 8 closing toward the respective chamber, and each pipe7 is carried to the intake of a respective enginecylinder 9, but one cylinder 9 being shown in the drawings, and that showing being in connection with Fig. 1, but the indicated cylinder 9 may be considered as indicative of an explosion engine of suitable type having a number of cylinders corresponding to the number of chambers in the valve casing.

Extending axially through each chamber 3 is a valve stem l() having a continuation ll entering a guiding pocket 12in line with the longitudinal axis of the respective chamber 3 but located inthat wall of the chamber 4 remote from the chambers 3. That end of each valve stem l0 remote from the continuation 11 is carried through a suitable passage 13 in the cover 2. Within the chamber 3 each valve stem l() has a valve lst and a disk or piston l5. Each port 5 is materially smaller in diameter' than the diameter' of the respective chamber 3 and the valve la is of a diameter to loe adapted to the respective seat 6` while the disk l5 is of materially greater diameter than the valve 14 and titted to the respective chamber 3 to move therein in practically gas-tight connection therewith under the pressures employed.

Secured to the valve casing in a position corresponding to the common center et the valve chambers 3 is a post 1G which may be in the form ot a rod threaded at one end to seat in a correspondingly threaded socket l? formed in the `valve casing and at the other end threaded to receive a nut 18.

At an intermediate point the rod 16 is squared, as shown at 19, or otherwise suitably formed. Mounted on the squared portion 19 of the rod 1G is av spider composed of arms 2G which in the structure shown in Fig. l radiate from a` central point in ninety degree relation, and ea ch arm at the outer end is enlarged, as sho-wn at 21, to engage the exposed end of a respective valve stem l where such stem projects through the valve casing cover Q. The rod 1G is provided with a flange or collar which may be rounded on the face presented toward the spider, and the latter is formed immediately aboutV the rod 1G with a groove or seat 23 adapted to the tlange Q2, so that the spider may be rocked with the flange 22 serving as a pivot support. Between the nut 18 and the spider there is confined a spring 2li in surrounding` relation to the rod and engaging at one end against the spider and at the other end against a washer 25 held to the rod 1G by the nut 18.

The constantI action of the spring is to press the spider toward the cover Q and the ends of the spider arms engaging the valve stems l() force the valves le. into engagement with the seats 6, so that under the conditions assumed the chamber l is closed against communica-tion with the chambers 3 and the valves are at some little distance from the cover 2, while the pipes T communicate with the chambers 3 in the space between the two valves.

Connecting with the chamber l is a. pipe QG extending to a pump 27 shown in dot-ted lines in F ig. :2, but which may be taken as indicative of any device wherein there is or may be contained a supply of an esplosive mixture which under appropriate pressure will be directed to the chamber e by the pipe :26. Assuming that the pump 27 is employed, then the pipe 2G includes a check valve structure QS connected by a pipe El) to any suitable source of fuel, say to the carburetor of an automobile. lll/There the pump 27 and check valve 28 are not employed a tank of compressed fuel may be provided, it being possiblel with the starter of the present invention to employ the tank of compressed gas employed for lighting purposes for supplying the compressed gas for starting purposes. Assuming that the explosion engine is standing still, then a certain one of the pistons in a tour cylinder engine will be in al position in the cylinder permitting an eX- plosion within such cylinder to start the engine forwardly, and, moreover, the eX- plosion chamber of the particular cylinder under consideration will be of minimum size due to the close approach of t-he piston to the corresponding head of the cylinder. Bassuming that the starting device is provi ded with a pump :27, then the operator manipula-tes` the pump in a manner to cause a suction which will draw gas through the pipe 2i) into the pipe 2G, and from thence into the cylinder ot the pump 2T, the valves 14k remaining closed. In the reverse movement ot the pump the check valve QS closes and the charge is forced through the pipe Q6 into the chamber Al t'orcing its way tlni'ough the ports 5, 'the valves opening, but thatcham ber connected with the engine cylinder having the smallest effective explosion chamber becomes equally lilled with compressed gas at a higher pressure than in the other cylinders where the gas readily flows into the respective engine cylinders. il superior pressure within the particular chamber under consideration acts upon the disk and since the other disks l5 are not subjected to like pressure, the valve stem l() of the first-named disk .l5 rises, causing the spider to rock thus moving the opposite valve stem l0 in a direction to close the valve lll, after which the difference in areas between the closed disk ifi and the opposite disk l5 maintains the valve lil in t-he closed position so long as the superior pressure is maintained in the engine cylinder connected to the chamber having the ope-n valve ll. If it be assumed that the chamber 3 under consideration as having its valve lili open be that chamber to the right ot' .gz l, then the chamber 3 at the left will be th one having the valve lll; closed. if it be assumed that the engine cylinders are so related that the rotation ol the engine is such as to cause the cylinders to act progressively in a substantially clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, then the lower chamber as viewed in l produced in it than in the succeeding chambers in order, so that the spider will be rocked on an axis perpendicular to a radial line intermediate olf the right hand chamber and the lover cha nber 3 while the other two chambers will have their valves l-l closed, the valves lalol" the first two chambers being open. Suppose, now, that a` spa-rk will have higher pressure initially Ill() be produced in the cylinder connected to the right hand chamber 3 of Fig. 1. An explosion will occur and the engine crank shaft will be given a forward impulse, since the charge already within the cylinder under consideration is a compressed charge, and, therefore, inflamed by the passage of the spark. The first impulse given to the engine results in the compression of the already introduced charge in cylinder No. 2 in the order of action of the engine, and as the piston of this cylinder is then moving toward the closed end of the cylinder the charge is compressed and by the time the explosion inthe first engine cylinder has expended its force the spark passes to the second cylinder in order Y and the introduced charge becomes inflamed and thel explosion takes place. Back firing through the pipes 7 cannot occur because of the check valves 8.

1n the case of a six cylinder engine, six chambers 3 are provided, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the valve casing indicated at 1a is correspondingly enlarged. A post 16a is provided and may in all essential respects be similar to the post 16 of Fig. 4. The structures differ, however, in that there are two spiders 30, 31 in superposed relation on the post 16a and the spider 31y is formed with a central boss 32 seating in a corresponding concavity 33 on the spider 30, and each spider may be more or. less rounded out where traversed by the post 16a, so as to permit the rocking of the spiders. 1nstead of the spiders beingfour-armed, as in Fig. 1, they are each triangular in shape and are so arranged as to bear on alternate valve stems. If a valve stem be raised in the structure shown in Fig. 1, then the spider will rock and cause the depression of the other tvvo valve stems controlled by the same spider. In this manner the one of the disks 15 in the chamber connected to the cylinder having the smallest effective explosion chamber at the time is raised and the valves 14 in the corresponding chambers controlled by the same spider are closed. The next chamber 3 in order is controlled by the other spider, but, like the structure shown in Fig. 1, the said next chamber in order has its disk 15 actuated to move the valve 14 away from its seat, thus rocking the spider and seating the valves 14 of the other chambers. 1t will be seen, therefore, that the action of the structure of Fig. 4 is practically the same as that 0f the structure of Fig. 1, although the structure of Fig. 1 is designed for a four cylinder engine and that of Fig. 5 for a six cylinder engine. The mounting of one spider on the other and the tapering passages through the spiders Where surrounding the post 16a provide for the rocking movements without turning movements of the spiders.

As soon as the engine is started the starting apparatus of the present invention becomes inactive, the spring 24 forcing the valves 14 to their seats in the absence of superior pressure in the chamber 4, and any tendency for the production of sub-atmospheris pressure or suction within the chambers 3 only serves to hold the valves 14 more firmly to their seats, since atmospheric pressure upon the valves 15 is superior and acts in opposition to atmospheric pressure upon the valves 14 in a direction tending to open these valves. The pressure within the cylinders due to the explosions therein cannot be transmitted to the chambers 3 because of the check valves 8, and the effect of the production of sub-atmospheric pressure within the cylinders on the suction strokes is ineffective to the valves within thecham-bers 3 for the reasons stated.

That is claimed is 1. A starter for multi-cylinder engines comprising a valveV structure having as many valves as there are cylinders to the engine and each valve controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to the respective engine cylinders, and connections between the valves for causing a movement of one valve to move other valves in the reverse direction, and means for directing fluid under pressure to all the valves, said valves being differential valves and responsiveA to effectively different fluid pressures.

2. In a starter for multi-cylinder engines, a valve structure provided with as many chambers as there are cylinders to the engine and with a chamber common to all the firstnamed chambers and communicating with each first-named chamber through a port of less area than the cross-sectional area of the respective first-named chamber, a valve member within each first named chamber having a valve and a disk thereon of different areas and each first named chamber being connected to a respective cylinder, connecting means betweenthe valve members for causing the active movement of one valve member to maintain the valves of the other valve members in the closed position with respect to the port between the secondnamed chamber and the respective ones of the first-named chambers, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the second-named chamber.

3. 1n a starter for multicylinder explosion engines, a valve structure having a plurality of separate chambers equal in number to the cylinders of the engine and each connected to a respective cylinder, a chamber common to all the first-named chambers and communicating therewith through ports individual to the chambers and each of less area than the cross-sectional area of the respective chamber, a valve member in each chamber having a valve adapted to the port in said chamber and a disk or piston of larger area corresponding to the cross sectional area of the chamber, a spider engaging the valve stems and movable in response to the active movement of any valve to hold their valves in the closed position, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the second-named chamber.

el. A. starter for multi-cylinder explosion engines provided with as many valve chambers as there are cylinders to the engine with each chamber connected to a respective cylinder and said connection provided with means for preventing return flow of fluid from the cylinder to the valve chamber, a differential "alve in each chamber, means for causing the active movement of one valve to control the active movements of the other valves, and means for directing fluid under pressure to the respective valves.

5. A starter for multi-cylinder explosion engines comprising a valve structure having as many valve chambers as there are engine cylinders and each valve chamber having communicating connections with a respective engine cylinder, a differential valve in each chamber, a rockable spider engaging the several valves and having a normal tendency to maintain the valves in the closed position, and means for directing fluid under pressure to the valves to act selectively thereon in opposition to the normal tendency of the common valve engaging means.

(3. A starter for multi-cylinder explosion engines including as many differential valves as there are engine cylinders, a means common to all the valves for directing fluid under pressure thereto, each valve controlling the passage of fluid from the common means to the respective cylinders, and interconnected means for the valves constructed to cause the active movement of the valve to opposed active movements of other valves.

7. ln a starter for multi-cylinder explosion engines, a valve casing having a series of valve chambers therein, and another chamber common to all the valve chambers and communicating therewith through ports individual to the valve chambers, and each of less area than the cross-sectional area of the respective valve chamber, a valve stem in each valve chamber and provided with a valve adapted to the port between the valve chamber and the common chamber and with a disk or piston fitting the valve chamber and movable therewith, the disk or piston being of larger area than the valve, a connection between each valve chamber and the respective cylinder, said connection including a check valve closing toward the valve chamber, a stem or post in the valve structure intermediate of the chambers, a rockable device carried by the post and engaging the valve stems, a spring acting on the rocltable device and tending to maintain the valves in closing relation to the ports between the valve chambers and the common chamber, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the common chamber.

S. A starter for a four cylinder explosion engine comprising a valve structure having as many differential valves as there are cylinders and a distributing chamber communicating with all the valves, each valve controlling the passage of fluid from the distributing chamber to the respective cylinders, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the distributing chamber, and a roclrable spider carried by the valve structure and provided with means imparting to it a normal tendency to hold all of the valves in a closed position, said rockable spider being movable in a direction under the impulse of an actively working valve to hold others ot the valves in the closed position.

9. An engine starter for a siX cylinder eX- plosion engine comprising a valve structure with as many differential valves as there are cylinders and also provided with a distributing chamber common to all the valves, each valve controlling communication between the distributing chamber and the respective cylinder, means for supplying fluid under pressure te the distributing chamber, and an interconnecting means between the valves comprising rockable spiders each controlling a group of alternate valves corresponding in number to the relation of the number of spiders to the number of cylinders of the engine.

10. An engine starter for a six cylinder explosion engine comprising a valve structure with as many differential valves as there are cylinders, and also provided with a distributing chamber common to all the valves, each valve controlling communication between the distributing chamber and the respective cylinder, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the distributing chamber, and an interconnecting means between the valves comprising two triangular spiders in superposed relation and each rockalole with reference to the other on a common support, each spider controlling three alternate valves, and means tending normally to move the spiders in a direction to close all the valves.

ll. An engine starter for multi-cylinder engines provided with means for supplying fluid under pressure, and interconnected differential valves controlling the flow of such fluid to respective engine cylinders, the valves being related to the engine cylinders to become selective to the cylinder having its piston in position for an active forward the fluid under pressure to control the other stroke. differential means through the interconnec- 12. An engine starter for multi-Cylinder tions therewith.

explosion engines, comprising a selector for In testimony whereof I have affixed my 5 automatically clilrecing fiud under (pressplre signature in presence of two witnesses.

to the engine oy inc ers an rovi e wit a plurality of intereonneotiid differential FRANK H' MILLS' means each adapted to control the How of Nitnessesz fluid under pressure to a respective engine LUKE V. DWYER, 10 cylinder and each constructed to respond to THOMAS J. BAILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

